CULTURE OF THE ASTER. 27 



outer rows of flowerets, (the Aster consisting of a great number of small 

 flowers, each of which, in the single varieties, matures a seed.) 



Diseases. — The Aster is very subject to the attacks of insects, of which 

 the most destructive is a small black beetle, or blister fly, which attacks the 

 flowers, eating all the petals. For this pest we know of no preventive, and 

 the only cure is to pick off" and destroy the insects. The bed should be 

 visited at least three times a day, and all the insects killed. The most 

 convenient way is to throw them into a pan of hot water, for killing them 

 is apt to blister the fingers. 



For the root aphis, which troubles the plants in sandy soils, we know of 

 no remedy but to dig up the afl'ected plant, and destroy the insect. 



Varieties. — The old China Aster single is now but little grown; the 

 double varieties are, however, common. The quilled variety is now not as 

 popular as a few years ago, being superseded by the peeony flowered va- 

 rieties, but it is so very beautiful it should be in every garden, and it has 

 the additional recommendation of ripening its seed better. 



The Peeony flowered is by far the most beautiful of all the Asters ; the 

 beauty and size of its flowers, and the number of blossoms must recommend 

 it to every gardener and amateur. It is as hardy and quite as easily culti- 

 vated as any other variety, and no collection of annuals can be complete 

 without this beautiful variety. The Ranunculus flowered Aster is a neat 

 dwarf and very pretty variety ; we have not flowered it ourselves, but it 

 must prove an acquisition. There are many other varieties, all well worthy 

 of cultivation, but the above are by far the finest. We subjoin a translation 

 of a French pamphlet, on the Culture of the Pyramidal Aster: — 



THE CULTURE OF THE REINE MARGUERITE. 



Pyramidal. 



The varieties of the Pyramidal Aster, tall or dwarf, are, without doubt, 

 the most beautiful of their species. They are hardy, resist drought, and 

 accommodate themselves to all kinds of soils, and to every exposure, equally 

 well with the more common single varieties. This Aster has the twofold 

 advantage of a strong, and, at the same time, a majestic habit. The branch- 

 es are erect and strong, and produce flowers remarkable in their whole 

 appearance. The blooms are formed of large, erect, long tongue-shaped 

 petals which, describing concentric curves, resemble the spherical flowers 

 of the Chrysanthemum or Pseony ; it is from this form that they derive the 

 name of Pyramidal Pasony Flowered Asters, by which they are generally 

 known. But the flowers are not only remarkable for their elegant and 

 almost perfect form ; they are distinguished, also, for their brilliant colors, 

 rich, bright and delicate, among which we may notice rose, with all its 

 shades, pure white, all the tints of violet, delicate red shading to the most 

 brilliant carmine ; these various shades are also elegantly spotted, dashed 

 or banded with pure white. 



Although the culture of this plant is always simple and easy, it must be 

 remembered it has been for the most part neglected in our gardens. This 



